Labubu dolls, which have recently become popular as collectible toys, are creating a new kind of business in China — toy repair shops. These plush dolls, loved by many, are not only being bought in large numbers but also being sent for repairs, giving rise to the need for professional “toy doctors.”
According to a report by South China Morning Post, a toy repair expert in Shanghai, known as “Heartman,” repaired around 100 Labubu dolls in just one month. As demand increased, he had to ask his wife to help and even moved to a larger studio to handle the growing workload. On average, repairing a Labubu doll costs about 10% of the toy’s price.
While toy doctors have been fixing vintage and old toys for a while, the huge fan following of Labubu has boosted their popularity and business.
How Much Do Labubu Dolls Cost?
A regular Labubu doll costs around ₹1200 (or 99 yuan/US$14). However, in China’s second-hand market, these toys can sell for hundreds or even thousands of yuan. For instance, on July 23, a rare, limited-edition Labubu was sold on eBay for an incredible ₹9,15,134.64 (US$10,585), making it one of the most expensive Labubu dolls ever sold.
What is Labubu?
Labubu is a character created by Hong Kong artist Kasing Lung. It belongs to “The Monsters” family. In 2019, a Chinese company called Pop Mart started producing these plush dolls in partnership with Lung.
A Febre Labubu: O Toque Mágico da LISA — a thread pic.twitter.com/SMA99W5Z9Z
— LISA BRASIL (@lalisabrasil) May 14, 2025
The popularity of Labubu skyrocketed after Lisa from the South Korean K-pop group BLACKPINK publicly shared her love for the toy. As a result, Pop Mart’s “The Monsters” series saw a massive 726.6% rise in sales, reaching a revenue of ₹3,677 crore (3.04 billion yuan).
Labubu is not just a toy — it’s a trend. And thanks to its growing fanbase, repairing these dolls is now a successful business in China.
